John Hancock was first to sign

John Hancock was the first to sign that sheet of parchment. After much dispute and a powerful speech by John Adams, the resolution of independence was adopted with 12 affirmative votes and 1 abstention. With this, the colonies officially severed political ties with Great Briton. On July 4th the final wording of the Declaration of Independence was approved and sent to the printer for publication. The church bells rang out over Philadelphia declaring the Declaration had been officially adopted.